Newcastle Entertainment Centre

Blondie is an American new wave band formed in New York City in 1974 by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the American new wave genre and scene of the mid-1970s. Their first two albums contained strong elements of punk. Although successful in the UK and Australia, Blondie was regarded as an underground band in the US until the release of their third album, Parallel Lines, in 1978. The band released a series of hit singles, including "Heart of Glass," "One Way or Another," "Dreaming," "Call Me," "Atomic," "The Tide Is High," and "Rapture," with several reaching number one in the US. Blondie was known for its eclectic mixture of musical styles, incorporating disco, pop, reggae, funk, and early hip hop. The band disbanded after their sixth studio album, The Hunter, in 1982. Debbie Harry continued a solo career after taking time off to care for her partner, Chris Stein, who was diagnosed with pemphigus, a rare autoimmune skin disease.